Even though the Belmont Park card was pretty chalky with winners Master Merion, Practical Joke, Mind Your Biscuits and New Money Honey, the Delaware Park races gave us double-digit winner Guilty Twelve and the Delaware Oaks exacta. Argentine champion Dona Bruja carried the ball at Arlington and the Keystoneforvictory - The Pizza Man exacta bolstered the day's profits.
With seven winners on the report and the Belmont (G1) exacta, Pope Jude fans had a very nice end to the Triple Crown season. "Wiseguy" horse, Tapwrit, ran to his training and Graham Motion was able to get Irish War Cry to stay the mile and a half.
Thanks to everyone who emailed and tweeted about their scores. It is always fun to go home from the track with a smile on your face.
Looking forward to the Stephen Foster (G1) card at Churchill Downs Saturday night and the other stakes at Gulfstream, Monmouth and Santa Anita during the afternoon.
After a tremendous Preakness (G1) day for Pope Jude fans, this weekend's slate and the prospect of inclement weather at most of the tracks we follow, it seemed prudent to let the wagering alone. Hopefully, next weekend we'll have something to sink our teeth into.
We were asked by the folks at Bulleit Bourbon to do a report for their private party Thursday night at Churchill Downs. In eight races, we had five winners on the card:
BULLEIT BOURBON DAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017
(5:00) CD 1st Race – #4 LITTLE BIT IRISH ran well in his last start at Keeneland 18 days ago. He’s only run one clunker in his last five starts and seems solid in this event under leading rider Corey Lanerie.
(5:29) CD 2nd Race – #2 THERIGHTTOBEARARMS ran fourth in her debut to the promising filly Nootka Sound, who is probably headed to Royal Ascot. She broke slowly that afternoon and should be sharper with experience. The drop from maiden special weight races to maiden claiming is huge and her trainer, William Helmbrecht, has a better record second time out.
(5:58) CD 3rd Race –#7 CHEYENNE BLUES owns an excellent closing kick and there seems like enough early speed types are entered to make her late run effective. Trainer J.R. Caldwell wins first time out with 14% of his claims.
(6:27) CD 4th Race –#5 PRINCESS EMBER has been facing easier company at Mahoning Valley and will need some improvement to hit the winners’ circle. She has tactical speed and gets a top jockey for this run, so it is not out of the question.
(7:54) CD 7th Race – #7 WAGON BOSS ran against an unbelievably good field in an allowance race at Keeneland last time out. He actually had a shot to win, which doesn’t reflect in his running line, so this easier bunch offers him a big shot at a monster price. Trainer Ignacio Correas, IV often succeeds in having his charges outrun their odds and this could be another one.
Despite missing Always Dreaming in the Kentucky Derby (G1), popejude.com players had an immense run on Saturday, as the winners of race 3-8 were on the report:
3rd) Rocket Time ($7.80)
4th) Caviar Czar (8.20)
5th) Sir Dudley Digges (9.40) $1 Pick 3 ($85.80)
6th) Paulassilverling ($7.60) $1 Pick 3 ($90.60)
7th) Roca Rojo ($4.60) $1 Pick 3 ($60.00)
8th) Wild Shot (19.40) $1 Pick 3 ($91.40) $1 Pick 4 ($577.40)
Congrats to all who took advantage of this streak.
The last Kentucky Derby (G1) prep, the Arkansas Derby (G1) and the Stonestreet Lexington (G3) head up Saturday's racing with the Plenty of Grace Stakes from Aqueduct and the Los Angeles Handicap (G3) at Santa Anita in Saturday's report. Undercard races from Keeneland and Oaklawn Park are covered too. Lots of great action! #GetHot #StayHot
Friday is opening day at Keeneland and we have a full card report available at half-price if you are heading out to the track or following along on your favorite ADW account.
The Florida Derby (G1) and the Louisiana Derby (G2) will be featured on this Saturday's report as well as the undercard stakes and other selected races from Gulfstream and Fair Grounds. Some of 2017's best racing in North America will take place this weekend, so get in the game!
The first two races and the last two races don't seem to offer any great wagering opportunities. We don't advocate taking too many short prices on World Cup Day, so look for value and possible ways to turn a short price into a longer one through exactas and tris. Remember, it's not the horses you don't bet that hurt you.
(8:50) MEY 3rd Race – International racing is always better when HH Aga Khan is winning. He will be represented by #3 VAZIRABAD. The grey gelding prepped nicely over the course on February 23 and should be set for a corker in the Dubai Gold Cup (G2). His main competition could come from Godolphin’s #11 BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE, the talented mare who just beat him in his prep and the venerable #1 SHEIKHZAYEDROAD who has still got it at eight-years-old.
(9:25) MEY 4th Race – Godolphin entrant #13 THUNDER SNOW won the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) impressively and was subsequently nominated to the American Triple Crown. He’s the morning line favorite and deservedly so. The four-year-olds, #8 VETTORI KIN and #11 HE RUNS AWAY are both highly rated and should go off at huge prices in the UAE Derby (G2).
(10:00) MEY 5th Race – The two best entrants, by a long way, in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) are #11 LIMATO and #6 ERTIJAAL. The former has a bit of a class edge while the latter has the benefit of a recent race. It has been our experience that recency tops nearly everything in turf sprints. The two Godolphin runners, #5 JUNGLE CAT and #12 BACCARAT have both been running well at the Carnival and would not be shocking winners.
(10:35) MEY 6th Race – #14 MIND YOUR BISCUITS has been pointing to this race for quite a while. The American was given a race in the Gulfstream Park sprint (G3) to tune him up for this event and he has trained exceptionally well in the desert. Love his outside draw, and his 7-2 morning line is a gift we probably won’t get.
(11:30) MEY 7th Race – Jebel Hatta (G1) victor #4 DECORATED KNIGHT looks tough right back in the Dubai Turf (G1). The son of Galileo has won three straight, but will still have to improve a little to garner the top prize. The boys in blue have a major contender here with #1 RIBCHESTER. This is a tad longer than he usually runs, but his trainer says, “he’s in good nick,” and seems tremendously optimistic of a top performance. #3 HESHEM has impressed on-lookers in his morning chores and his trainer as well. He has the benefit of a recent race and who doesn’t like 20-1 shots?
Pope Jude fans enjoyed seven winners on the report each of the last two Saturdays with both days covering a dozen races.
We'll attempt to keep the ball rolling next weekend when all eyes will be on Gulfstream Park and the Florida Derby (G1).
After a nice Saturday last week, Pope Jude fans are hoping to #StayHot.
The Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn is the race of the week as Derby fever is getting contagious. Laurel Park also has a nice card and we've posted a couple of Gulfstream races including the Inside Information (G2) and the Santa Margarita (G1) at Santa Anita.
Best of luck!
Due to the Papal visit to the Sandy Lane Gold Cup in Barbados. There will be no popejude.com report for Saturday,March 4, 2017.
All eyes will be on Saturday's Risen Star (G2) at the Fair Grounds, as the Kentucky Derby looms closer every day. Gulfstream Park features three stakes, including the Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3).
This week's report features a dozen races that we think give you the best opportunities for wagering success. Let's make 'em pay!
Saturday's report featured winners FAVORABLE OUTCOME, RYMSKA, IRISH WAR CRY, EL AREEB, ROYAL MO, SIBERIAN IRIS AND HOPPERTUNITY, out of 11 races. Many purchasers hit some nice horizontal bets, but one had a tough beat when EXCILLY could do no better than second at Gulfstream.
Hopefully, this weekend will continue the #GetHot #StayHot trend. With races like the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1), Hardacre Mile Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2), Suwannee River (G3), Lambholm South Endeavour (G3), Sam F. Davis (G3) and Tampa Bay (G3) in Florida and the Arcadia (G2) and Santa Maria (G2) in California, it should be an excellent Saturday of racing.
Racing's fiscal year kicks off with the opening of Santa Anita. We have a full card report for the Boxing Day card and are looking forward to the four graded stakes offered on the opening day program at the Great Race Place.
Best of luck at the windows and Happy New Year!
Due to the off track at Gulfstream Park, Saturday's report has been refunded.
Thanks for ordering. Best of luck!
To all the Pope Jude fans who wrote about their Claiming Crown scores...Thanks for the kind words. By its very nature, Claiming Crown is a tough event to handicap, but after being in attendance for the last several years, we have sort of gotten the hang of it. It is a combination of Keeneland (horses in from everywhere) and the Breeders' Cup (the best in their divisions), handicapping with the heat and humidity thrown in to make things more difficult.
Usually we don't put out a report for the rest of the year after Claiming Crown, but we had a couple of horses pop up off the watch list, found some interesting price plays and and a couple of solid singles, so we thought we'd give it a go for Saturday.
After this weekend, the next report will probably be a full card for Santa Anita's opening day, December 26. Our California peeps always want one.
Happy Holidays!
The Pope Jude crew is taking the weekend off to be with friends and family. We will return next Saturday, December 3, with a full card Gulfstream Park Claiming Crown report.
If you want to know who The Pontiff likes on Saturday, tune in to the XpressBet Weekend Stakes Preview Show on the Horse Racing Radio Network. The show, hosted by "The Big A," Anthony Stabile, airs from 6-7 PM ET Friday evening on Sirius 219/XM 206 and streamed live at horseracingradio.net. An archived recording is available on the website as well and can also be accessed via Horse Racing Radio on iTunes.
Pope Jude fans certainly enjoyed last Saturday's racing at Gulfstream Park West and Aqueduct.
The report kicked off with back-to-back exactas ($10.80 & $32.40) and finished up the South Florida swing with winners Enterprising and Compelled.
Bigger Picture ($21.40) was a huge overlay atthe Big A, thanks to the public's overwhelming love for Wake Forest, who was sent off at odds-on.
Let's #StayHot this weekend!
When your best bet of the two days wins the first race easily and pays $15.20, you know it’s going to be a good Breeders’ Cup. OSCAR PERFORMANCE justified our enthusiasm and beat his competition in the Juvenile Turf (G1) like a drum. Love when that happens.
DORTMUND looked horrible warming up for the Dirt Mile (G1), like he was distressed, and TAMARKUZ took it to the field in the Dirt Mile (G1). The throat surgery he had last spring has really helped him, plus, he is finally accustomed to American racing. John Sadler was correct about ACCELERATE. He belonged in the field and is one to watch next year. RUNHAPPY has been ruined by a ridiculous schedule.
NEW MONEY HONEY had the best turf figure of the American horses and ran to it. Her $15.00 mutuel in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) was a gift. There is no doubt that LA CORONEL was compromised by her hideous post and should get back to the winners’ circle soon.
The undisputed Queen of Santa Anita, BEHOLDER, went out a winner in the Distaff (G1) and that was great to see. SONG BIRD raced valiantly in defeat and lost no luster in the process. She is now the best dirt filly in the United States, if there was any question before. STELLAR WIND was a little wound up and hindered herself with a bad break. She will be a major force in 2017 if she gets a little break now.
In the wide open Juvenile Fillies (G1), CHAMPAGNE ROOM was not a total surprise, but her 33-1 odds were. She obviously has talent. VALADORNA is a gorgeous filly who proved her maiden-breaker at Keeneland was no fluke. Keep an eye on her. AMERICAN GAL was bet down to favoritism off a sparkling blowout under Mike Smith. Making her two-turn debut in this race was a huge reach, but she acquitted herself well and she seems to have a bright future.
QUEEN’S TRUST got an awesome ride by Frankie Dettori and captured the Filly and Mare Turf (G1) in fine style. This was a stellar field and runner-up LADY ELI drew more admiration with her performance. The good news is, she’ll be campaigned next year. With awesome speed and the ability to carry it, you’ve got to think AVENGE is going to win a few more races in her career.
We’ve been saying all year that DREFONG is the best sprinter in the country, so it was gratifying to see him win the Sprint (G1). If there is someone better at pointing a horse to a particular race and winning it than Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, we don’t know who it is.
Eight-year-old OBVIOUSLY, a California fan favorite, got the job done down the hill in the Turf Sprint (G1). That was fun for the locals to watch as was the fast finish by OM. Evidently jockey Joel Rosario forgot that CELESTINE was a speed horse, so a better run can be expected next time, if somebody who reads the past performances and utilizes them rides her.
CLASSIC EMPIRE and NOT THIS TIME put on a great show in the Juvenile (G1), which could be a preview of next year’s Kentucky Derby (G1). Great call by Michael Wrona, saying the pair was, “a street in front of the rest of the field.” Both of these boys are stone runners.
The Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) was tremendously formful, with the three best horses finishing 1-2-3. Seamie Heffernan stole the race on HIGHLAND REEL. His ride was a thing of beauty. FLINTSHIRE was given a lot to do once again, but nobody was beating the Coolmore horse on the day.
Have to admit we were looking the other way when FINEST CITY won the Filly and Mare Sprint (G1). It was fantastic for her young trainer, Ian Kruljac, and for the sharps who backed her. She won like a good thing with a race she had never run before. C’est la vie.
TOURIST had been touting himself all week, looking the picture of health and vitality. Beaten by MISS TEMPLE CITY and IRONICUS in his last start, it was questionable if he could turn the tables on both in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). Obviously, the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland was a very good race, with the top three in that one all earning a check here. TEPIN ran huge again. What a great mare she is. They are all slated to be back next year – what a division.
CALIFORNIA CHROME, older and world-class, versus ARROGATE, young and fast. What a race the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) was. ARROGATE got the money and showed what he is made of. Wait ‘til he fills out and grows up. What a beast the Juddmonte colorbearer will be.